Starting Now (Blossom Street #9)(90)

The rest of what he said remained a blur. The bottom line was that Libby wouldn’t be adopting Amy Jo. In fact, the Armstrongs had already decided on another name. A family name. Grace Jennifer.

No longer was this Libby’s daughter. Amy Jo would go to another family who had chosen another name. Another mother.

“What about Ava?” Libby asked once the fog had cleared.

“Our attorney is working out the details with her and her grandmother now.”

“It would be good if Ava had representation as well.” Libby would see to that herself.

“I imagine this is a terrible disappointment to you,” Marlene said sympathetically. “I’m sorry for that, but surely you can see that this is the best option all around. Grace will be with family, with those who love her.”

“I love her,” Libby insisted.

“We realize that,” Ron said gently. “But she’ll have both a mother and a father who are related to her by blood. You wouldn’t want to deny Grace that, would you?”

“No,” Libby choked out. “No … I want her to have the best of everything.”

“We do, too,” Marlene whispered. “We do, too.”

Chapter 34

As soon as Phillip heard the news from Sharon Jennings, he left the hospital. He didn’t know where he’d find Libby; the thought of Libby facing this alone undid him. She hadn’t answered any of his calls, nor had she responded to the messages he’d left on her voice mail. When his frustration grew so much that he couldn’t remain at the hospital any longer, he went directly to Libby’s condo.

Phillip found Libby on the floor of the baby’s nursery. She was huddled in a tight ball and sobbing so hard her entire body shook.

“Libby,” he whispered, and got down on the floor next to her. He wrapped his arms around her and she eagerly sank into his embrace. “I’m so sorry, sweetheart, so very sorry.”

She couldn’t speak, and for a moment he wondered if she was even breathing as he held and rocked her. He didn’t have any words of comfort, any words of wisdom to share. When pain was this deep he figured it was best to say nothing.

After a while she stopped weeping and simply clung to him.

“They want to adopt Amy Jo,” she whispered brokenly.

“I heard.”

“She’s their granddaughter.”

“I know.”

“They didn’t think I could love her as much as they would.”

“They’re wrong about that.”

Her arms tightened around him. “How is it possible to love a baby this much and not be linked by blood?” she whispered.

Phillip had no answer to give her. “I don’t know how it happens, but it does. I’ve seen it; I know it’s true.” He resisted the urge to kiss her for fear of where it would lead. He wanted her badly, yearned to comfort her, to show his love, to slowly sink his body into hers and protect her from the pain that consumed her. He would do anything to lift this heartache from her shoulders but felt helpless; all he could do was hold her and kiss her. Her response was strong and immediate. He realized he could make love to her right here on this carpet. His need was great but his love was stronger. Together they would get through this. He would help Libby as best he could.

“How … how’d you get into the condo?” she asked, rubbing the moisture from her cheeks.

“The door was unlocked. I rang the bell, but I don’t think you could hear it.”

“I didn’t,” she said, and blew her nose into the thick wad of tissues in her hands.

Phillip brushed the hair away from the sides of her face. Her nose was red and her eyes swollen and yet he could honestly say he’d never loved her more. His heart ached for her. If it were humanly possible he would absorb her pain, take it within himself rather than see Libby endure this emotional turmoil. He had never felt this way before. Never.

“What can I do to help you?” he asked, willing to do anything, make any sacrifice. Whatever she asked, he’d find a way.

“Just … hold me.”

“I will.” He kissed her crown, pressing her tightly against his heart.

“I … I went to the chapel after I met with the Armstrong family,” Libby whispered. “I didn’t talk to God … I spoke to my mother. I asked her—” She broke off for a moment and struggled not to break into sobs again. “I asked my mother,” Libby said, trying again, “what I should do.”

Phillip could picture her there in the hospital chapel, brokenhearted, reaching out to the one person in the world she knew for sure had loved her.

“My first thoughts were crazy,” Libby admitted. “I devised a plan to make off with Amy Jo and take her somewhere. I started figuring out how to do it, and had concocted all kinds of schemes before I realized I was being totally delusional. I love her. I would give anything to make this nightmare go away.” She buried her face in his chest and broke into heart-wrenching sobs.

Phillip rested his chin on the top of her head and gently stroked her back.

“I so badly wanted to be her family.”

“I know, my darling, I know.”

“Abby was going to hold a baby shower for me at the hospital.”

Phillip had heard all about that. In fact, several of the doctors he knew had planned to attend.